“You see, there are a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth,” he said. “I don’t believe that the Earth’s but about 9,000 years old. I believe it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.”

this man is a doctor, and has a degree in chemistry. behold, the power of religion to make smart people stupid.

Ordinarily I might suggest that someone get a hold of Richard Dawkins and have him take this fatuous lump aside, teach him how things are. Problem is, he would either not learn or not listen or both. People like this live with the benefits of modern science, but they cannot or will not recognize where those benefits come from.

Broun is a huckster and a liar. He knows that creationism is bullshit He's pandering to his ignorant and stupid constituents. As long as he regurgitates the sacred mantra of the creationist: evolution and science are of the devil and the earth is six thousand years old and Adam had a pet Dinosaur he will be reelected. I've said it before... You can't cure stupid.

You're right John. And it isn't Brown that's the moron. He knows better, but is a low grade scum bag who is pandering to the rubes that will fill his coffers and keep him at his level of political power.

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful. Seneca.

Fill in the blank with anything that doesn't support or agree with whichever religion's particular "beliefs." It's not them or their ridiculous worldview that's the problem. No, it's the devil toying with humans. LOL

I have a brilliant friend who inexplicably turned into a literal fundamentalist young earth creationist in middle age. His most recent bit of apologia is c-decay hypothesis (the notion that the speed of light has been slowing, and so the biblical numbers really do work). He is, in fact, illustrating Barry Setterfield's next book on the subject. To those with a deep need to shore up their beliefs, the mirror image of science (projecting data from hypothesis) feels like good science.

My take is that this is not necessarily stupid but is dishonest, even if unconsciously. I don't think that my friend really believes this hooey, but for whatever reason needs to live as if he does. About all I can come up with to explain it is early childhood indoctrination that inflicts unconscious punishment on the intellect whenever it conflicts with programming. It's been difficult maintaining our long friendship because every conversation of a non-trivial nature ends quickly when I push (perhaps too hard at times) and he begs excessive stress.

I teach science at a high school in south central Nebraska. Another science teacher from my school wrote this letter to the local newspaper. Please respond online to the letter. If we get a flood of responses, maybe people will notice. He is doing a lot of damage in his classes. Students are suffering.